Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & the Kingdom of Northumbria

Our one day tour from Edinburgh takes the scenic coastal route south into the Medieval Kingdom of Northumbria in North-East England; once the most important centre of religious learning and arts in the British Isles. Visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and explore the medieval market town of Alnwick and its stunning castle.

Tour Details

Duration:

9hrs 30 mins

From:

Edinburgh

Departures:

Tue, Wed, Fri & Sun till 31 Mar

Daily from 1 April 2019

Leaves at:

08:45

Returns by:

18:15

What's included?

Knowledgeable Driver-Guide

Luxury modern air-conditioned coach

Written translations (on request)

Not included?

Entrance to attractions

Food and drink

Children under 5

Visit Alnwick Castle, as featured in Harry Potter & Downton Abbey

Our first stop is Holy Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway which leads into the quaint island village of Lindisfarne, from where there are stunning views of Lindisfarne Castle, (which dates back to 1550). Spend time wandering through the ruins of its Priory where the magnificent Lindisfarne Gospels were produced, sample some of the world-famous Lindisfarne 'Mead' brewed by Monks on the island, and enjoy the tranquillity for which the island is renowned.

“Our tour guide; she was amazing, she was so full of great info and stories, a true storyteller.”

- Faye S, travelled September 2017

“She made the history of the country so enjoyable to listen to and kept us entertained for hours!!!”

- Catecatern, travelled September 2017

“The Driver-Guide had a lovely sense of humour and made sure we were well taken care of.”

- Lotustraveler, travelled August 2017

We continue south on to the bustling market town of Alnwick, whose greatest building is the medieval Alnwick Castle*. Enjoy time in the town centre or remain at the castle complex where there is something for everyone. Home of the Percy Family for over 700 years, Alnwick Castle is considered one of the finest castles in England and proudly known as “The Windsor of the North”. Visitors can step into the unexpected in the spectacular Alnwick Garden, with its wonderful Grand Cascade and Poison Gardens.It's grounds were also used in the Harry Potter films.

In the mid-afternoon we begin the drive north to cross the River Tweed into the historic border town of Coldstream. If time permits during this journey there will be a stop at Flodden Field, one of the best preserved battlefields in Northern Europe and scene of the infamous battle of 1513 which ended in victory for the English and the death of James IV, King of Scots.

*Please note that the tour routing and availability is subject to the tidal timetable at Lindisfarne, which may occasionally result in the tour having to run in reverse. There are two dates where the tour will not be able to visit Lindisfarne due to tides, these are: the 24th of June and the 10th of July. Bamburgh Castle will be visited instead.

Check-in opens 15 minutes prior to the stated departure time and closes 5 minutes prior to the stated departure time. We recommend that all passengers arrive in this window as tours must depart on schedule.

The price of your one day tour from Edinburgh includes the services of a friendly, knowledgeable and experienced Driver-Guide, and transportation on one of our luxury, modern, air-conditioned coaches.

All optional extras - attraction entrance fees, loch cruises, food and drinks, etc - are not included in the price. This is to allow our guests the freedom to choose which optional extras they would like to take part in on the day.

Optional extras for your tour are as follows:

From March 2018

Lindisfarne Priory: £6.30 adults, £5.70 concessions, £3.80 children

Lindisfarne Castle: £7.30 adults, £3.60 children

Alnwick Castle: £12.00 adults, £6.00 children

Alnwick Gardens: £9.80 adults, £4.00 children

Alnwick Castle & Gardens: £21.00 adults, £9.00 children

We have negotiated a discounted rate for the above attractions which are visited whilst on tour.

The above rates are valid from March 2018. Please note some attractions do not accept credit cards, entrance fees are payable in cash only.

No, you don't need to worry about pre-booking any of the optional extras.

All the optional extras can be booked on the day and your Driver-Guide will advise you of how to book. We negotiate discounted rates for you, ensuring you'll always get a great deal at Scotland's top visitor attractions.

Please note that many visitor attractions and accommodation providers may not accept card payments, so please ensure you have plenty of cash with you on the day. If you have any questions about this please contact our Reservations Team on +44 (0)131 226 6066 - open 7am-10pm daily.

As we like to give you as much time off the coach as possible with the opportunity for walks, we recommend you bring warm and/or waterproof clothing, wear comfortable walking shoes and take sun-block or a hat for sunny days.

Don't forget your camera to capture all the lovely scenery and wildlife you'll encounter on your day tour!

Since we cannot allow hot food on our buses you could also bring a cold packed lunch with you to make the most of your time at each stop, this would be particularly time-saving in the busier months!

Of course! Your one day tour from Edinburgh visits Alnwick Castle, which features in the Harry Potter films, where we will stop for lunch and to explore its grounds. Alnwick Castle has also featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and also popular British comedy series 'Blackadder'.